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idratherbereading542's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Okay so I've kind of been looking forward to this book for awhile. I know it's not for everybody -- and I mean that! If you're not into BDSM and erotica in general, then this isn't for you! I cannot stress that enough. It also has some m/m moments, although it's not the primary theme of the book. Although it's written by Anne Rice, it is just as raunchy and dirty, if not more so, than other erotica. I haven't read too much BDSM. It honestly isn't my preferred erotica genre mainly because of the lack of release that is allowed in general. This can get extremely frustrating while reading this sub-genre so I mostly shy away from it. But, despite that, I was looking forward to this series because I like the dark twist on an old fairy tale.
This story starts off with Beauty being awakened from a cursed slumber by her long awaited prince. However, she isn't awakened in the old fashioned way. From page one, things are looking not so happily-ever-after for Beauty. But she endures. She pushes on because she must and she starts to learn more about this new world of being submissive that she has been thrust into. It's not easy, but little things here and there help her get through it.
But despite trying to fit in to this new lifestyle, Beauty is rebellious. She does not want this life for herself so she is constantly shying away from it, even when she is being openly submissive. This story is about the first part of her journey.
One thing that I found pretty crazy about this world is that the slaves that are serving the Queen, Prince, and other Lords and Ladies, are actually all Princes/Princesses from other lands. I didn't really understand how they ended up there, but I found this really interesting. Normally it's the poor and weak that end up slaves to the rich, but in this world it's the rich and powerful that end up slaves to other rich and powerful people!
What I didn't like was that, as with other BDSM I've read, this does have the tendency to have a lack of release for the main character, which can be frustrating. But, I still enjoyed it for the most part. Also, the ending was a little confusing, meaning it doesn't really make sense why she ended up where she did. So that was a little off and abrupt for me, not making much sense at all.
Overall though, I actually kind of liked this. I know...I'm sick and twisted. But whatever, I already knew that. I think a lot of the one and two star reviews are probably from people who did not know that they were getting into and are also probably people who have never read, or don't enjoy, BDSM erotica. I enjoyed it, but it does certainly have some hard moments where you really just feel terrible for Beauty and the other slaves. But, other than that I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next and if/when Beauty will ever escape her fate.
Okay so I've kind of been looking forward to this book for awhile. I know it's not for everybody -- and I mean that! If you're not into BDSM and erotica in general, then this isn't for you! I cannot stress that enough. It also has some m/m moments, although it's not the primary theme of the book. Although it's written by Anne Rice, it is just as raunchy and dirty, if not more so, than other erotica. I haven't read too much BDSM. It honestly isn't my preferred erotica genre mainly because of the lack of release that is allowed in general. This can get extremely frustrating while reading this sub-genre so I mostly shy away from it. But, despite that, I was looking forward to this series because I like the dark twist on an old fairy tale.
This story starts off with Beauty being awakened from a cursed slumber by her long awaited prince. However, she isn't awakened in the old fashioned way. From page one, things are looking not so happily-ever-after for Beauty. But she endures. She pushes on because she must and she starts to learn more about this new world of being submissive that she has been thrust into. It's not easy, but little things here and there help her get through it.
But despite trying to fit in to this new lifestyle, Beauty is rebellious. She does not want this life for herself so she is constantly shying away from it, even when she is being openly submissive. This story is about the first part of her journey.
One thing that I found pretty crazy about this world is that the slaves that are serving the Queen, Prince, and other Lords and Ladies, are actually all Princes/Princesses from other lands. I didn't really understand how they ended up there, but I found this really interesting. Normally it's the poor and weak that end up slaves to the rich, but in this world it's the rich and powerful that end up slaves to other rich and powerful people!
What I didn't like was that, as with other BDSM I've read, this does have the tendency to have a lack of release for the main character, which can be frustrating. But, I still enjoyed it for the most part. Also, the ending was a little confusing, meaning it doesn't really make sense why she ended up where she did. So that was a little off and abrupt for me, not making much sense at all.
Overall though, I actually kind of liked this. I know...I'm sick and twisted. But whatever, I already knew that. I think a lot of the one and two star reviews are probably from people who did not know that they were getting into and are also probably people who have never read, or don't enjoy, BDSM erotica. I enjoyed it, but it does certainly have some hard moments where you really just feel terrible for Beauty and the other slaves. But, other than that I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next and if/when Beauty will ever escape her fate.
tawniebear096's review
I get that this was written in the 80s but her being 15 in the book and this essentially being abuse just doesn't do it for me. Would not recommend this to anyone
kimberlyb's review against another edition
I didn't like how The Prince was "punishing" Beauty. I didn't see what she did to deserve it. and It put me off BDSM.
peppamint's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
reading_ani's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Perfect start for the series! There was great character development and absolutely the best scene descriptions I have read in a while! More of this story is not a need, but a must!!
ellie_bronte's review against another edition
2.0
I actually don't know what to think about this book. I've never read erotica before, and I figured that if I was to sample this genre I might as well sample from the best. Anne Rice is one of my favorite writers, so I figured that this was the best that I could go.
It took me weeks to finish this book.
By that I don't mean that it was bad. It's well written (not as well as her other books however) and there's a legitimate plotline, and I felt that it became easier to read once I accepted the idea of master/slave relationships to be the culture of this book. But I just... I don't know. What exactly is this book supposed to do for me?
I did feel like I was just reading it, I didn't feel anything other than the shock factor or some of the things going on. Honestly, some of the things I found funny more than erotic, which I'm guessing isn't supposed to be the case here. This book just felt so outlandish to me,and besides the descriptions of the characters themselves it wasn't really hot to me.
Maybe this genre just isn't for me? This book isn't outstanding, nor downright terrible. I'm just not really sure what to feel about it.
It took me weeks to finish this book.
By that I don't mean that it was bad. It's well written (not as well as her other books however) and there's a legitimate plotline, and I felt that it became easier to read once I accepted the idea of master/slave relationships to be the culture of this book. But I just... I don't know. What exactly is this book supposed to do for me?
I did feel like I was just reading it, I didn't feel anything other than the shock factor or some of the things going on. Honestly, some of the things I found funny more than erotic, which I'm guessing isn't supposed to be the case here. This book just felt so outlandish to me,and besides the descriptions of the characters themselves it wasn't really hot to me.
Maybe this genre just isn't for me? This book isn't outstanding, nor downright terrible. I'm just not really sure what to feel about it.
belwood303's review against another edition
2.0
I'm reading such an interesting mix of books this year, and it has to do with recently moving and realizing that there are books I've had for almost 20 years that I still haven't read. I made a promise to myself that I was going to make a real effort this year to read those books and purge as needed so I don't have to move them again. This series will be some of the books I give away, I'm just not sure if I will bother reading the second book yet.
Not really my cup of tea but thinking of it as a dystopia helped. Confirms that I would have no interest at all in the 50 Shades of Grey books either.
Not really my cup of tea but thinking of it as a dystopia helped. Confirms that I would have no interest at all in the 50 Shades of Grey books either.
ihateprozac's review against another edition
1.0
My butt cheeks hurt just from reading this.
I went in expecting a BDSM dark romance retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but what I got was a tedious 200 pages of people getting beaten black and blue with only a crumb of consent. I have read multiple romances with dubious consent and CNC and enjoyed them, but this was straight up gross.
It's also really boring.
I think Anne missed the memo that erotica should actually be erotic?! A strange concept, I know.
I went in expecting a BDSM dark romance retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but what I got was a tedious 200 pages of people getting beaten black and blue with only a crumb of consent. I have read multiple romances with dubious consent and CNC and enjoyed them, but this was straight up gross.
It's also really boring.
I think Anne missed the memo that erotica should actually be erotic?! A strange concept, I know.